vows to my stepdaughters

As we planned out our wedding ceremony, I knew that I wanted to make vows to my new stepdaughters. Not vows they would repeat or make, but unilateral promises from me to them. I wanted them to understand the promises (at ages 6 and 3), but also to grow in understanding them as they grew older. 

I wanted my vows to be something I absolutely knew I could keep. No clichés, no fluff, no just-sounds-good stuff. It was hard to find good examples or suggestions of what to promise. So in case anyone out there is looking for similar vows to make to their stepchildren, here are the words I chose to promise to them. 

I, Shelby Renee Bennett, promise to love you, Lucy and Zinnia, as my own daughters. I will do my best to grow you into healthy, strong women. I promise to teach you both knowledge and wisdom, to help you love yourself and others, to stay with you through good days and hard days, to apologize when I make mistakes, and to give you a home where you are safe and nurtured. I will choose to love you no matter what for as long as I live. 

I’m so glad I made those promises. And I mean to keep them. Every word.